Since the announcement of ONE 168, anticipation has been high. Every fight is a potential highlight, but one matchup has captured everyone’s attention: Jonathan Haggerty’s bantamweight Muay Thai world championship clash against Superlek Kiatmoo9. Even five-time world champion Andrew Howson has his eyes on this fight.

Furthermore, Andrew Howson recently added to the hype surrounding ONE 168 with a comment on the ONE Championship Instagram reel, which was uploaded on Monday, showing his support for Superlek Kiamtoo9. This drew the attention of Kiatmoo9’s opponent, Jonathan Haggerty, who responded to the five-time champion respectfully. With fight night fast approaching in Denver, anticipation continues to build.

Support grows for Superlek Kiatmoo9 to defeat Jonathan Haggerty

The highly anticipated rematch between Jonathan Haggerty and “The Kicking Machine” is drawing near. Their last encounter took place outside of the ONE Championship in 2018, where Superlek emerged victorious by knockout in the second round. However, both fighters have come a long way since then, and Haggerty believes he has what it takes to dethrone the reigning champion this time around.

Before their highly anticipated clash inside the Circle, a war of words erupted online. In a recent ONE Championship Instagram reel, Andrew Howson threw his support behind Superlek and predicted the upcoming fight result, commenting, “Superlek stoppage 3-4 round.” This didn’t go unnoticed by Jonathan Haggerty, who responded to Howson with a playful jab, replying with a “kiss emoji.”

Later, Andrew Howson understood the sensitive situation and explained to Jonathan Haggerty why he chose Superlek. He said, “No hate; he’s just my favorite fighter worldwide, has been for years, and is the elite right now. Make no mistakes; pulling it off will be amazing for you and UK Muay Thai and confirm you as one of the goats for sure. Big task he’s amazing and on fire, battering everyone right now.”

The most unsettling thing about this incident was that everyone, including fans who commented and replied with funny reactions, seemed to be making light. However, despite the jokes, nothing remained clear: even in the competitive world of sports, friendship can transcend rivalry, as we’ve seen in the ONE Championship many times.

Superlek reveals his relationship with Haggerty

Ahead of ONE Championship’s highly anticipated return to the United States at the Ball Arena in Denver, a rematch years in the making is set to ignite the Circle. Back in 2018, Superlek and Haggerty were scheduled for a fiery Muay Thai clash, but the fight was cut short due to a head wound sustained by Jonathan Haggerty in their earlier rounds. Now both fighters have risen to the top of their respective divisions, ready to rewrite history.

In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, the Thai star acknowledged that his opponent, Jonathan Haggerty, has significantly improved. Superlerk emphasized that he doesn’t want to underestimate Haggerty based solely on their previous encounter. He went on to say, “I think his improvements have been well-rounded. He’s improved his speed as well as his power. His punches are precise, and he’s gained a lot of experience since then. I can say that he’s on another level.”

While acknowledging his opponent, he also admits that he has also changed a lot and made significant improvements since their last fight. He emphasizes that even without a lengthy championship reign, he’s become more comfortable fighting with smaller gloves. Superlek expresses pride in his development and now eagerly awaits this thrilling rematch.

This highly anticipated rematch promises fireworks. Both Superlek and Haggerty acknowledge each other’s growth, and with their honed skills and the burning desire to prove themselves, this fight is sure to be a barnburner for Muay Thai fans around the world.